One of the most annoying parts of the airport security routine — taking off your shoes — might soon come to an end for flyers. The US Transportation Security Administration is quietly testing a new policy that allows passengers to keep their shoes on during standard security screening, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The change hasn’t been formally announced by the agency, but was first reported by Gate Access, a travel newsletter written by a former TSA officer. The TSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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The WSJ says the move is part of a broader effort to modernize checkpoints and speed up the screening process without compromising safety. Instead of relying on broad, one-size-fits-all rules, the agency is leaning more on data, behavior analysis and updated scanning tech.
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The shoe removal rule has never been popular. One of the main perks of enrolling in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry is being able to breeze through security without taking your shoes off. The same courtesy already extends to travelers 75 and older, as well as kids 12 and under.
Now, after nearly 20 years of this policy, a potential shift away from the security theater of the past could mean fewer travelers doing the barefoot shuffle through airport scanners.
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